BUYING TIPS

Ask the dealer or artist questions. They know the most about the work, so pick their brains to learn more. The art is meant to be discussed and questioned. The artists want buyers to have a conversation about the work and what it means to them.

Old style or contemporary? Old style works use mineral pigment paint, often feature classic katsina portrayals and usually have lower price points. Contemporary dolls have much more detail, are painted with oil and acrylic paint, often are shown on bases and have a higher price point. “One-piece” carving is a term used to describe a doll carved from a single piece of cottonwood. The term can be confusing to new collectors because it is normal for a doll to have parts such as ears or objects carved separately and added later. True “one-piece” carvings can command $10,000 and up.

Some artists carve multiple figures within one piece. As long as they represent katsina figures, they are still katsina dolls. Many great, professionally made katsina dolls can be acquired for under $1,000, with a wide variety available at prices as low as $350 to $500. More affordable works are often old style dolls, while contemporary works often start at $1,200 and can go as high as $30,000 and $40,000.

Old style dolls are often hung from a wall, while contemporary dolls, which often have elaborate bases, are shown on a flat surface.